Prince Epenge, president of the Action for Democracy and Development in Congo (ADD Congo), was scheduled to depart for Rome, Italy, on Sunday, October 25, where the Congolese opposition was set to gather. However, he was unable to board his flight from N'djili International Airport due to intervention by agents of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM). Epenge was traveling with Martin Fayulu when the DGM agents confiscated their passports.
After a period of waiting, Fayulu's passport was returned, but Epenge's was retained. According to reports, the DGM agents informed Epenge that he was required to respond to a judicial summons. The case is linked to the death of Manassé Lomboto, a young militant from Epenge's party who died following a march by the C64 coalition on September 15 in Kinshasa.
Lomboto, under 25 years old, was part of the security team for ADD Congo and was at the forefront of the march alongside Epenge. Clashes broke out during the protest when some youths armed with bladed weapons attacked the demonstrators. Lomboto was reportedly beaten and evacuated to a hospital in a coma, where he later died. Epenge subsequently accused militants from the Force du Progrès, linked to the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), and called for an independent investigation.
The case took a judicial turn, and on September 26, the Kinshasa/Kalamu Public Prosecutor's Office suspended the release of Lomboto's body from the CHU du Cinquantenaire hospital. The opposition has denounced the incident as an ambush, while the authorities have rejected these accusations. Official reports from the City Hall do not mention any fatalities from the march.
Epenge's party, ADD Congo, is part of the Lamuka coalition and the C64, a group that has been actively opposing the current government. The confiscation of Epenge's passport has raised concerns about restrictions on opposition figures in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident has also sparked fears about the government's tolerance for dissent and criticism.
The DGM's actions have been seen as an attempt to limit the opposition's ability to participate in international gatherings and to silence critics. Epenge's planned trip to Rome was likely to discuss the current political situation in the DRC with other opposition leaders. The incident has strained relations between the government and the opposition, which has been calling for greater freedoms and democratic reforms.
Gloire Batomene, a representative of the opposition, has expressed concerns about the increasing restrictions on opposition figures. The incident has sparked widespread debate about the state of democracy in the DRC and the government's commitment to upholding human rights.
Key points
- The DGM confiscated Prince Epenge's passport, preventing him from traveling to Rome.
- The case is linked to the death of Manassé Lomboto, a young militant who died during a march by the C64 coalition.
- The incident has strained relations between the government and the opposition in the DRC.
